Controller



Oct. 19, 1937. l R. w. Ross ET AL CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 23, 1935 FIGB.

l 2Q m o@ wf@ i dfi A ATTORNEY.-

Patentedot. 19, 1937 'AYUNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc-E CONTROILEB. g

Raymond W. Ross, Philadelphia, Pa., and Sigurd H. Seberhagen, deceased, late of Philadelphia, Pa., by Sophie Seberhagen, executrix, Philadelphia,' vPa., assignors'to Leeds and Northrop Company, Philadelphia,'la., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January z3,v 1935, serial No. 3,196

' 12 claims. (Cl. 20o-56) This invention relates to controllers and, while oi general application, it is particularly suitable for use in connection with electro-responsive devices such as atbmatic indicating, recording and/or controlling apparatus similar to that described and claimed in United States Letters Patent #1,935,732, granted November 21, 1933, upon the application of L. Y.,Squibb, or in the copending application Serial No. 75,208, flied April 18, 1936, entitled Indlcating, recording and/or controlling apparatus.

of the operating member by the actuating means.

More specifically, in accordance with this invention, the actuating means for the-controller may comprise a shaft either rotated manually o r actuated automatically in accordance with changes in magnitude of a condition to be measured or controlled. The actuating shaft is connected to the driving gear of a differential gearing mechanism, while the driven gear of the differential mechanism-supports and drives one or moreV cam disks adjustably secured thereto and inoperativerelation to the control devices. The pinions of the differential gearing mechanism are pivotally supported about the Yaxis of the actuating shaft, as by means of a spur gear journaled on the main drive shaft, this spur gear being adjustable about the shaft to vary the phase relation between the drivingv and driven gears ofthe differential mechanism and thus to vary the setting of the control devices' with respect to rotation of the actuating shaft.' The spur gear, supporting the pinions of the diiferential mechanism, may be operated through any suitable mechanismv as, for example, by means I of one or more idler gears and an operating shaft.

The operating shaft of the controller may be actuated automatically, as in accordance with Y some predetermined program or sequence, or

manually, as in the particular embodiment of this invention illustrated. In case the operating shaft is actuated manually, it preferably extendsV through the casing, or housing in which the controller is disposed, `and is there provided with a. manual operating member so that the adjustment of the setting of the controller maybe made from the exterior of its enclosing casing without interruption of the normal operation thereof. In case the operating shaft for the adjusting mechanism extends through the front of the enclosing housing and in case the front of the housing comprises a hinged door or cover, as is the usual arrangement, a disengageable driving connection is interposed between thel manual operating member and the adjustable mechanism.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, an indicating member movable by and in accordance with ythe manual adjusting mechanism cooperates with a scale to afford an indication of the particular control point for which the controller is set to operate..

In accordance with another feature of this in-z vention, a plurality of cam disksA are driven by, and adjusted through, a differential mechanism, as a unit,. the phase relation between theseveral disks being independently adjustable in any suitable manner to aiford a. plurality ofl controlling effects taking place in any predetermined sequence.

For a better understanding of this invention,

together with other and further features thereof, reference is had to the following description takenY in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed outI in the appended claims.

In. the drawing, Fig.` 1 isv a view in end elevation of a controller embodying the invention as applied to a. combined indicator-recorder of the type described in the aforesaid copending application; Fig. 1a is a side elevation of a part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional vdetail through the operation mechanism for the cam disks of the controller of Fig. 1, and

, Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c are detail viewsfbf a pre'- ferred form of contact operating mechanism for this invention as embodied in an electric circuit controller, showing the sequence of movements thereof as a c'o1trOl disk moves through successive positions.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a controller suitable for application to an automatic indicating, recording and/or controlling apparatus similar to that de- -scnbed and claimed in the aforesaid'copending application, or in said Squibb patent. In such indicating and recording apparatus, it is customary to4 eiect a movement between predetermined limits of a secondary movable member by and in accordance with the movements of a primary measuring instrument, suchV as a sensitive galvanometer, by means of intermediary mechanical relay. apparatus. Such a secondary movable member may constitute the shaft I0 of Fig. 1 of the drawing, corresponding to the shaft ID- of the above mentioned Squibb patent, yor the shaft 28 of the aforesaid application. On the shaft IIl is mounted a pulley II which carries an endless cord or belt I2 `passing over idler pulleys I3 and secured to the recorder pen assembly as by a clamp |4. The recorder pen assembly slides on a guide shaft or rod I6 in response to movements imparted thereto by the cord or belt I2. The recorder pen assembly I5 includes a recorder pen |1 which registers with a record chart I8 traveling over a chart drum I9 in a conventional manner. Also mounted on the shaft I0 is a disk 20 carrying a slidewire or potentiometer 2| provided with a cooperating stationary contact 22. The slidewire 2| may be included in the circuit of the primary measuring galvanometer, intermittently to rebalance this circuit after an unbalance occasioned by a change in magnitude of the condition under measurement in a well-known manner. The recorder pen assembly I5 carries also indicator 23 registering with an indicating scale`24.

'I'he improved controller operated from vthe shaft I8 comprises a plurality of disk cams 25, each of which operates a suitable control device 26. In order to adjust the angular relationship between the disc cams 25 and the shaft |8, and thus adjust the control peint of the several control devices, the several disk cams 25 are driven by the shaft I0 through a differential gearing mechanism, one element of which is manually or automatically adjustable. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, this differential mechanism comprises a bevel gear 21 secured to the shaft I0 by aset screw 28 and provided with an elongated hub or sleeve 21a. Journaled on the sleeve 21a is the other bevel gear 29 of the differential mechanism, also provided with an elongated hub or sleeve 29a, which is threaded throughout its length, as indicated. The outer end of the sleeve 21a is preferably threaded to receive a nut 30 which retains the gear 29 in position by engaging the end of its hub 29a. 'I'he several -control disk cams 25 are disposed upon the hub 29a of the gear 29, separated by annular spacers 3| and key washers 32. As indicated, the hub 29a is provided w'lth a slot or keyway into which fit depending keys of the washers 32. A thumb nut 33 threaded on the end of the hub 29al clamps the Jseries of cam discs 25 and spacers 3| and washers 32 against the hub of the gear 29, thus securing a frictional driving engagement between the gear 2 9 and the cam discs 25.

Also journaled on the shaft I0 is a large spur gear 34 provided with projecting arms 34a in which are mounted stub shafts 35 retained by set screws 36. On .the end of each of the stub shafts 35 is secured a pinion gear engaging the bevel gears 21 and 29 and completing the differential mechanism. The spur gear 34 may be operated by any suitable mechanism as, for example, through an idler gear 38, and a driving gear 39 secured td a shaft 40 as by a setscrew 4I.

I lAlsomimnteu on the shaft 4o is a pulley 42 secured by a set screw 43 and driving a cord or belt passing over idler pulleys 44 and attached 'I'he operating sh t 40, as stated above, may be operated automatical y in accordance with some predetermined program or sequence, or manually,

.as illustrated. To provide for manual operation,

there is mounted in the cover or door frame 46 of the apparatus casing C a stub shaft'41 to the end of which is secured a knurled thumb nut 48 as by a pin 49. The inner end of the shaft 41 has a shoulder 58 between which and the inner face of the cover 46 is a biasing spring 5| normally urging the nut 48 and the shaft 41 to the right, as viewed in Fig. l. The end of the shaft 41 carries also a d isc or plate 52, shown in detail in Fig. la, provided with a plurality of recesses or notches 52a. Thenotches 52a cooperate with a pin 53 projecting from the pulley 42 to form a disengageable driving connection between the thumb nut 48 and the operating shaft 40,

The spur gear 34 is provided with a hub 34h on' engaging a stationary pin 51 for taking the torque I of the brake 54. e s

While this invention may be utilized to operate any vof the well-known types of control devices, such as pneumatic or hydraulic pilot valves or the like, or electric circuit controllers of various types, it is illustrated as applied to the operation of a circuit controller shown in dcta'l in Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c. This circuit controller 26 comprises a pair of spring contact elements 26a rigidly supported at one end and normally in circuit opening position. Attached to one of these spring elements 26a is a block of insulation material 26h upon which an operating member 26C is pivotally mounted' at 26d. In the upper end 'of member 26e is supported a roller 26e engaging the cam disc 25, while thebiasing spring 26j tends to rotate the element 26C in a clockwise direction about pivot 26d. The positions of the spring contact elements 2611i` are shown for three positions of the operating cam disc 25 in Figs. Bw, 3b and 3c, respectively, from which it is seen the cam disk 25 operates the element 26e over-center in moving from the position of Fig. 3a. to that of Fig. 3c, and retains it in an over-center position upon further movement in the same direction. Upon rotation of the disk 25 in the opposite direction, it is apparent that the sequence of the movements of the element 26e is in reverse order. By the use of such an over-center operating element 26e, a single notch 25a in the disk 25 is adequate to operate a switch to either open or closed circuit position, which heretofore has required a cam disc of two different levels; that is, of

uniform radius.'A l

It is believed that the operation of this improved controller will be clear from the foregoing description. In brief, if it is assumed that the shaft I0 is rotated in direction and magnitude anism such as that set forth in the above mentioned ,Squibb patent or the aforesaid copending application; and lif it is assumed further that the manually operated thumb nut 48 is initially adjusted to set the controller at the desired control point, it will be seen that movements of the shaft I8, through the cord I2 and the pulleys II and I3 will impart translatory movement to the re- Gorder pen assembly I5, producing-a corresponding indication on the record chartA Il.

Similitaneously, the shaft Il will eifect rotation of the driving gear 21 of the differential mechanism and, since the large spur gear 3l from which are supported the pinions 31 remains stationary, the driven gear 25 of the differential mechanism will be given an equal angular rotation in opposite direction, eilfecting corresponding angular movement of the camldisk 25. If the improved controller is utilized in an automatic regulating system and the movement of the cam disk 25 is sufiicient to operate one of the several control devices 25, the operation of such device is utilized to effect a controlling action upon the primary condition which is being measured and controlled in such a sense as to restore this condition to the desired value. As indicated, a plurality of cam control disks 25 may be operated as a unit from a single 'differential m, so that a variety of different controlling effects may be secured by the mechanism.

The control range of the system, as determined by the several cam disks 25, may be adjusted by loosening the thumb nut 33 and manually adjusting the angular phase relationship of the several control disks 25 in a well-known manner. During normal operation of the system, the frictional drag of the brake 5I upon the `recess 34c of the gear 3l is so adjusted that-motions imparted to the diii'erential mechanism by the shaft l will not be carried back into the adjusting mechanism.

Incase it is desired to vary the control setting;

that is, that portion of the total range of operation of the system within which the control is confined, it may be accomplished by adjusting the thumb nut 43. Neglecting operation'of theshaft Ill for the moment, it will be seen that rotation `of the nut I8 eects, through the gearing 3|, 38,

39, a rotation of the plnions 31 of the diiferential mechanism which, assuming thedriving gear 2l to be stationary, effects the Vcorresponding rotation of the driven gear 29 of the diiferential mechanism and with it, the `cam disks 25. Thus, these disks are moved as a unit by means of the manual operating element Il without, in any way, disturbing the normal operation of the apparatus as a whole or interrupting the control of the cam disks 25 by theshaft Il. It will be seen also that rotation of the operating element I8 will produce a corresponding movement of the pulley 42 which, through its operating cord and idling pulleys Il, will produce a translatory` movement of the control setting indicating member 45.

In case the control setting of the controller is -to be manually adjusted, it is desirable that the manualoperating element I3 should extendfrom the front of the casing C of the apparatus, the front portion -of which customarily comprises a glass window forming a part of a cover or door hinged about one side. To this end, the drive from the manually adjustable element I8 to the spur gear 34 includes a disengageable driving connection comprising the disk 52 and the pin 53. By the provision of this disengageable driving connection, the cover of the apparatus may be swung free, breaking the driving connection at this point without otherwise disturbing either the adjustment of the differential mechanism or the normal operation of the apparatus. If, upon subsequent closing of the cover or door-frame 46, the pin 53 should not accurately register with one of the notches 52a.` of the disk 52, or shouldV engage the face of this disk, it is desirable that no undue stresses should be set up in the operatrelated, will deilect' to permit a closing of the lcover or door-frame 46 without undue stresses on the operating mechanism. Subsequent rotation of the manual operating element 43 will move the disk 52 with respect to the pin 53 until it registers'with one of the notches 52a, whereupon the spring will move the disk intoengagement with the pin 53, as illustrated in the drawing.

Thus, the above described mechanism coinprisesa controller in which the control setting oi' the apparatus may be adjusted manually exteriorly of the apparatus without, in any way, interfering with itslnormal operation and without access to the interior of the casing in which the apparatus is enclosed.

While there has been described what at present is considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention,-

and therefore the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electro-responsive device, control means, rotatable operating means movable to a position to operate said control means, a driving member rotatable between predetermined limits, a differential mechanism entirely supported by said member and operatively connected to said member and to said operating means to establish therebetween a given angular relationship, said mechanism including an adjustable element for changing said angular relationship for operation of said control means for any selected position of said driving member.

2. An electric circuit controller comprising a pair of contacts, an operating shaft, a diiferential gearing including a driving gear secured vto said shaft and provided with an elongated hub, a driven gear journaled on said hub and a pinion interconnecting said driving and driven gears, a supporting member for said pinion journaled on said shaft, and a cam disk adjustably secured toA said driven gear and in operative relation to said pair of contacts, said pinion supportingmember being manually adjustable about said shaft to vary the phase relation between said driving and driven gears and thus to vary the setting of the opening and closing of said contacts. v

3. In an instrument having a casing and a door-frame therefor,` a controller adapted to be disposed within said casing comprising a movable operating member, a control device in operative relation to said member, means for normally actuating said member to eilect a change in the operating condition of said control device, means for adjusting said member independently of said actuating means and without interrupting its control of said member, to modify the control of said device by said actuating means, a manually operable member adapted to be supported from said door-frame, and an operating connection between said manual operable member and said adjusting means disengag'eable upon opening move ment of said door-frame.

4. In an instrument having a casing and a door-frame therefor, a controller adapted to be disposed withinsaid casing comprising a rotatable operating.. cam, a control device in operative relation to said cam, a shaft for rotating said cam to effect a change in the operating condition of said control device, a differential gearing interposed between said shaft and said cam, one of the elements of said differential gearing being manually adjustable -to vary the phase relation between-said shaft and said cam during normal operation of the controller, to modify the control of said device by said actuating means, a manually operable shaft adapted to be supported from said rotatable cam disk having a uniform radius except for an operating notch, a pair of cooperating contacts, an over-center operating element conne'cted to one of said contacts and disposed in operative relation to said cam disk, means operable between predetermined limits for selectively rotating said cam in either direction, rotation of said cam in one direction effecting only the opening of said contacts and rotation in the other direction effecting only closing of said contacta, and means for adjusting the angular phase relation between said cam and said rotating means during normal operation of the controller to modify the control of said contacts by said rotating means. l y

6. An electric circuit controller comprising a rotatable cam disk having a uniform radius except for anoperating notch, a pair of cooperating cam in either direction, and means for adjusting the angular phase relation between said cam and said rotating means during normal operation of the controller to modify the control of said contacts by said rotating means.

7. An electric circuit controller comprising a rotatable operating cam, a pair of contacts in operative relation to said cam, a shaft rotatable between predetermined limits for rotating said -cam to eiect opening and closing of said contacts,. a differential gearing interposed between said shaft and cam, one oi' theeleme'nts of said differential gearing being manually adjustable t'o vary the phase relation between ysaid shaft and said cam during norinal operation ofthe controller, to modify the' control of said contacts' by said actuating means, a scale, and an indicating member movable by and in accordance with movement of the adjustable element of said differential gearing- 75 a rotatable adjustable element normally restrained from forward or reverse movement, and means for rotating said adjustable element to change the angular relationship between said member and said cam, whereby said switch may be operated by movement of said rotatable member to and from any position between its limits of movement.

9. An electro-responsive-device for automatically efiecting a controlling action upon a primary condition comprising a member rotatable between predetermined positions in accordance with changes in the magnitude of said condition, control means for controlling the magnitude of said condition, operating means for said control means, a differential mechanism forming a driving connection between said member and said operating means, said mechanism including a rotatable adjustable element, braking means exerting a braking effort normally to prevent forward or reverse rotation of said adjustable element, and means for rotating said adjustable element against said braking effort to change the angular relationship between said member and said operating means.

10. An electric circuit controller comprising an operating shaft, a differential gearing including a bevel gear secured to said shaft and provided with an elongated hub, a driven gear having an elongated hub concentric with, and journaled on, said first-named hub, pinion gears interconnecting said bevel and driven gears, a spur gear journaled on said shaft, stub shafts for said pinion gears carried by said spur gear, circuit controlling means disposed adjacent said elongated hubs, a plurality of cam disks for actuating said circuit controlling means, means for clamping said disks to said hub of said driven gear, a friction brake for opposing movement of said bevel gear, and

means for adjusting against the bias of said brake \a bevel'gearsecured to said `shaft and provided with an elongated hub, a driven gear having an elongated'hub concentric and coextensive with said first-named hub, pinion gears interconnecting said bevel and driven gears, a spur gear journaled on said shait and provided with stub shafts about which said pinion gears are free to rotate,

said spur gear having a braking member formed integrali;T therewith, means cooperating with said .braking member irictionally to resist movement of said spur gear, said frictional resistance being of a magnitudeto prevent movement ofsaid spur gear upon rotation of said bevel, pinion, and driven gears, means for adjusting against opposition by said frictional resistance the phase relation between said bevel and driven gears, and circuit controlling means operablev from one position to another upon rotation of said bevel gear from one position to another position.

12. In an electro-responsive device having an operating shaft adjustable in accordance withvariations in the magnitude of Ya condition, the combination of control means for effecting a controlling action upon said condition, an actuating member operable when moved to a given position to actuate said control means, a differential mechanism entirely supported upon said shaft an'd including driving and driven gears respectively secured to and journaled upon said shaft, pinion gears, a spur gear fior supporting said pinion gears in meshing relation with said driving and driven gears, friction means for opposing movement oi' said spur gear, and means 5..;for angularly adjusting said spur gear and said v actuating member to vary operation of said conrtrol 'means and thereby effect said controlling action when said magnitude of said condition attains a pre-selected value.

RAYMOND W. ROSS.

SOPHIE SEBERHAGEN,

ament of 

